Ty Burrell Replaces Robert Downey Jr. In Mr. Peabody And Sherman

It was last year when we first learned about the proposed plan to make a movie about Mr. Peabody and Sherman. Based on the shorts featured on Rocky and Bullwinkle, the project reportedly had Robert Downey Jr. on-board to play the know-it-all dog. Now the film is finally moving forward, but it looks like Downey Jr. has been replaced.

Ty Burrell and Max Charles have signed on to play Mr. Peabody and Sherman, respectively, in the new DreamWorks Animation project, according to THR. While Burrell is best known for playing "cool" dad Phil Dunphy on the hit ABC sitcom Modern Family, Charles is a relative newcomer whose career has largely been spent on TV (though he will be seen in theaters this summer playing a 7-year-old Peter Parker in The Amazing Spider-Man). The trade mentions that Downey' Jr. was previously attached to voice one half of the duo, but doesn't mention why he isn't doing it anymore. The plot of the film will follow Peabody and Sherman as they search for their stolen time machine - the WABAC machine - and try to stop whoever stole it from changing events of the past. Rob Minkoff, who is best known for helming movies like The Lion King, Stuart Little and The Forbidden Kingdom is attached to direct.

Burrell was recently cast in the Jackie Brown prequel, Switch, and while you can currently watch him on the currently-airing third season of Modern Family he also has the comedies Butter and Goats coming out later this year. Charles will next be seen in the Farrelly brothers' The Three Stooges.